Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the covid
vaccination mission through video conferencing, launching the
operations in all the States and Union Territories. Union Health
Minister Harsh Vardhan has foremarned against any unwarranted
panic over minor episodes of side-effects as they are
very common with all inoculations. In case of any exceptional
symptoms, the Centre has provided a Helpline No. for guidance:
1075. In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister has also explained the essential aspects of the vaccination:-
"We were taught to see a world beyond just ourselves. To be
conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people."
- Kamala Harris, Vice-President-elect, United States of America.
She is releasing a series of her reminiscences of her early
period, of people and events that had deep influence on the
course of her life and thoughts, in the coming days leading up to
her inauguration as the Vice-President of America, the first
woman ever to occupy a position that high in the greatest
democracy yet.
With armed security inside and outside the Capitol building, the US House on Wednesday voted on the article of impeachment of President Trump on the charge of "incitement of insurrection" over the Capitol rampage. He is the third President to be impeached in US history, and the first ever to be impeached twice. However, there is uncertainty over his early trial in the Senate which meets only on January 19, a day before the presidental inauguration of Biden.
India has so far reported 109 cases of infection of the UK
variant of covid virus. Apart from quarantine, passengers have to
undergo RT-PCR test before and after their journey.
The new line has five new stations from Yelachenahalli station
to Silk Institute station - Konanakunte Cross, Doddakallasandra,
Vajarahalli, Thalaghattapura and Silk Institute.
Despite Pence wrote to Pelosi he will not act on Dems' call for
Trump's removal, the House went ahead as per plan and voted
the resolution late in the night.
Pence told Pelosi on Tuesday before a resolution was about to
be passed asking him to invoke the 25th Amendment and
remove Trump, that "I will not yield to efforts in the House." He has broken his silence.
The four women Captains - Zoya Aggarwal, Papagari Thanmai,
Akansha Sonaware and Shivani Manhas - were greeted by a huge
crowd at the Kempegowda airport with loud cheers.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are among 1.5 m people in the UK to have received the first dose of the covid vaccine so far. The situation in London is out of control, Mayor Sadiq Khan said.
President Trump had incited the US Capitol storming. His removal or impeachment is being considered. He has been described as "mentally unsound." His condition is called Schizotypal Personality Disorder.
OPINION: Byju’s to take over Aakash? If and when the deal comes through,
it would be one of the biggest edtech acquisitions in the world.
These are signs of the dawn of a new era facilitated by science and technology,
busting the Indian ubiquitous rackets one by one like the massive politician-British
clerk-NCERT-printer-newsprint-fake author racket, which led to a mushroom growth
of tuition centres like Aakash, which, of course, has done a yeaoman service
to the hapless victims of our Macaulay schools.
COMMENT: There is widespread criticism that the postponed CBSE
examination schedule will affect the students seeking admissions
abroad and it should be preponed. Such a question could never be
raised in any country, other than India! The CBSE examination, let
us be clear, is not conducted for foreign admissions. Secondly,
which university is going to start admissions during the current
global pandemic.
The theft of Aldabra tortoise from the crocodile park at
Mahabalipuram, near Chennai, is suspected to be an insider job.
One tortoise is worth over Rs 10 lakh in the international market.
The Aldabra has a life span of up to 150 years. The largest size
seen is 1.5 metres in length and 200 kg in weight.
COMMENT: The nursing staff union at the AIIMS is on indefinite
strike, not because some injustice has been done to any of
them. They are dictating how the AIIMS should make
appointments. Rather, they have decided that the AIIMS should
not make contractual appointments. It reminds one of the union
days of 1970s when, whether private or Government, an
employee could not even be shifted from one section to another
without triggering a strike. There used to be thousands of
workers' unions on the roads in Delhi those days every day,
striking work and blocking traffic. Nobody could do anything
about it. All these were due to the self-seeking leaders who
were building up their parties and canvassing their vote banks;
and they were the real exploiters. Our type of democracy
allowed it. And who were the losers in that game? The working
class, getting a pension of Rs 500 per month today! They would
have been, instead, flourishing today with prosperity and self-respect, without any 'ism'. In a genuine democratic set-up this
type of decadent unionism will not rear its head. Because those
opportunities will be absent. India does not have such a
'functional democracy,' a democracy that will work for everyone.
It is not in our Constitution!
Originally Air India had belonged to the Tatas who pioneered civil aviation in India. It was nationalised by a Russia-inspired Nehru. What is surprising is why the new Government should take millennia to get rid of the blood-sucking white elephant. Kudos to Arun Shourie for the smartness in doing those little things upon becoming a Minister once upon a time, in no time!
The US Secret Service has started preparing for Trumps' life in
Palm Beach after presidency. Former Presidents, former First
Ladies and their immediate family members are provided life-
long Federal protection. The Trumps have also started repairs of
the mansion, Mar-a-Lago, a club he has owned for decades. Last
year he shifted his primary residence here from New York City,
and cast his vote in Palm Beach this year.
Yet another helpless Indian woman having had to go to Saudi Arabia in search of work as maid servant has reportedly died of physical and mental torture
by her employer, it has been alleged. However, the Indian Foreign Ministry has
said after an inquiry that she died of natural causes.
Unlimited excitement will be on offer in Dubai as Lionsgate Entertainment
and The 20th Century Fox are building theme parks to provide the audience an
illusion of experiences of timeless horror of the Titanic disaster and the death and rebellion of the dystopia.
PUDUCHERRY (PONDICHERRY)
Promenade Beach, Paradise Beach, Auroville Beach, Serenity Beach, Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Church of the Capuchins, Manakula Vinayagar Temple, Thirukaameeswarar Temple (Periya Koil), Aurobindo Ashram, Auroville, French War Memorial, Romain Rolland Library, Governor's Palace, Bharati Park (Government Park), Light House, Chunnambar Beach, Backwater Resort
Scotching the adverse propaganda, indigenous vaccine
manufacturer of Covaxin, Bharat Biotech said clinical trials had
proven its safety and ability to produce antidotes.
The coldest day of the season was on January 1 when the
mercury plummeted to 1.1 deg C, lowest in 14 years. The air pollution too has shot up in the Capital.